Can-body forming



(NoModeL') '4 Sheets-Sheet 1.'

R. D. HUME. GA N BODY FORMING, SOLD BRING, AND HEADING MACHINE.

N0. 506,878. Patented Oct. 17, 1893.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

R. 1). HUME. CAN BODY FORMING, SOLDERING, AND HEADING MACHINE.

7 m o k 00 q m 3 \m k G N N a M .3 x 0 w.0\.

FAQ A (No Model.) Y 4 Sheets-'Sheet 3.

, R. D. HUME. CAN BODY FORMING, SOLDBRING, AND HEADING MACHINE. No.506,878. Patented Oct. 17,1893.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

R; D. HUME. 0AN BODY FORMING, SOLDERING, AND HEADING MACHINE. N0 Q5 06,8378 '7 VIII/IIl/I/I/ UNKTED STATES PATW ROBERT D. HUME, OF GOLDBEACH, OREGON.

CAN-BODY FORMING, SOLDERING, AND HEADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,878, dated October17, 18 93.

Application filed March 22, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. HUME, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gold Beach, Curry county, State of Oregon, have invented anImprovement in Gan-Body Forming, Soldering, and HeadingMachines; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of sheet metalcans.

It consists in certain details of construction which will be more fullyexplained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l(Sheetsl and 2) is a side elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 (Sheets 1 and2) is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of thecutting mechanism. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8and 9 are cross sections on'the respective dotted lines 2l2223-2 l25 ofFig. 2. Fig. 10 is adetail view of the pressing device with itsconnections. Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line 26 of Fig. 1 (Sheet2). Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of that part of the machine where thereturn of the chain and carriers takes place, and the heading andcrimping commences. Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section throughthe heading and crimping device. Fig. 14 is an end view of the head ofthe cylinder which carries the can bodies to be headed. Fig. 15 is asimilar view of the reciprocating can-head carrier. Fig. 16 is a detailview of the plate 0). Fig. 17 shows a modification of 'the cylinder 1).Figs. 18, 19 and 20 are details to be referred to, Fig. 18 being areverse view.

The object of this invention is by a single continuous operation to takesheets of metal, cut them into the proper lengths, form the hooks uponthe edges, shape the sheets into a cylindrical form, lock the edges andclose and solder the seam, place a head upon the finished body and crimpit thereon.

Upon a suitable frame-work or support A is mounted a former B which maybe of cast metal or other suitable material. The rear end of thisformcris nearly flat, being curved upward a little at the outer edges,and from this the curvature gradually increases until at a pointsufiiciently distant from the receiving end the sides have been drawntogether Serial No. 467,182. (No model.)

until they form a cylindrical horn around which the sheet of metal hasbeen wrapped by its gradual advance from the rear end of the former toits cylindrical portion. Exterior to this former is a casing of metal Owhich is correspondingly shaped at the rear end and gradually curvedtoward the front until it is closed around the former as shown at C,forming an annular channel around the horn within which the tubularsheet of metal is contained. This casing O is supported at such adistance from the lower and outer sides of the former B as to leavesufficient space for the passage of the sheet of metal between it andthe former B.

The sheet of metal out of which the tubular can or other article ismade, is advanced between the formerBand casing O, by means of carriersD, the lower ends of which are hinged to the chain links E, as shown,and the upper ends project through slotsF in the casing O, and travelwithin corresponding guide channels in the lower part of the former B.These channels and the corresponding slots in the casing are graduallycarried up around the sides of the former B and the exterior casing, asthe latter are drawn together, to approach the cylindrical form, untilwhen the cylindrical form is complete, these carriers stand upon theopposite sides of the cylindrical horn. In order to allow these carriersto gradually change their position as they move over this space, theyare loosely hinged to the inner sides of the links of which the carryingchain is composed, as plainly shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and they arethus allowed to turn about these links from an approximately vertical toa horizontal position, thus presenting their carrying edges against theedge of the sheet of metal so as to advance the latter continuously fromthe time it enters the apparatus until it is discharged at the oppositeend. The chains which move the carriers pass around sprocketwheels G andG at opposite ends of the apparatus. Thereis one of these chains uponeach side of the apparatus, and they pass around the sprocket-wheels Gwithin the curved inclosing bands H which form extensions of the casingO, and the spaces between the bands are made by widening the guide slotsin the casing to allow the carrier heads to enter the slots as they comeup around pulleys G.

Before the horizontal table formed by the rear end of the casin g C isfixed a cutter which consists of a cutting or shearing blade I fixed tothe cross-head J which slides in vertical guides in the standards Kwhich are fixed upon each side of the machine as shown. The cutting edgeof the blade I is made concave as shown, so that it cuts from the edgesof the sheet toward the center.

Upon the ends of the shaft which carry the chain sprocket-wheels G arefixed thecams L, and the ends of the shaft extend through slots in thelower ends of the connecting rods M which extend upward and take hold ofpins projecting through the slots in the standard from each side of thecross-head. From the lower ends of the connecting rods project pins Mwhich are engaged by the cams at each rotation of the shaft and thecutter blade is thus drawn down. The ends of the shaft entering theslots in the connecting rods serve as guides for the latter'as theyreciprocate.

N is the opposite blade against which the movable cutter acts, and thisis fixed upon the bed of the machine.

0 is a stop against which the edge of the sheet of metal is arrestedwhen the sheet is moved beneath the cutter and this insures its beingcut off to the proper length for the article to be made. These stops areconnected with the ends of arms P by screws P which allow the arms alittle independent movement. These arms P are connected with oscillatinglevers Q fulcrumed to the frame or bed-plate and having projections Qwhich are engaged by the cams P at the proper instant to tilt the leversand lift the stops 0, so that the sheet of metal may pass on to theformer after it has been cut off. The lever Q is tilted just as thesheet has been cut, and this movement causes the points P to descend andhold the edge of the sheet near the cutter until the latter has risen,after which the opposite ends of the levers P will have risen so as tostrike the screw heads P and lift the stop 0. At the instant the stopsare moved, the sheet is taken by the carriers and moved forward intothat portion of the apparatus which forms the hooks upon the oppositeedges of the sheet, to be afterward united to form the seam when thesheet has been bent into a tubular form. These edges are turned over bya mechanism consisting of flanged rollers H which I do not furtherdescribe as they form no part of the present invention.

The shaft 6 carries on its outer end the inwardly flanged case 2 and tothe latter is attached the pawl 3, see Figs. 18 and 19. A short sleeve 4is loosely mounted upon the shaft, and carries the pinion S and also thedisk 5 with a. notch in its periphery with which the pawl 3 engages.Now, as the rack bar R moves in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) thepinion will revolve and with it the disk the 5 so that the notch in itwill be engaged by the pawl 3, and, consequently, rotate shaft 6 andwith it the sprocket pulleys G and therefore the chain also. But whenthe rack bar recedes the pinion Swill turn in the opposite direction,and, consequently the pawl 3 will slip over the notch in the disk 5 andthe case 2 and shaft 6 remain then unmoved.

The sheet of metal is carried along by the carriers upon the chain by anintermittent motion produced by a pawl and ratchet mechanism connectedwith the shaft of the sprocket wheels G, and operated by a reciprocatingrack bar R, the teeth of which engage with the teeth of a gear wheel Sturning loosely upon the sprocket-wheel shaft, so that when the rack barreciprocates in one direction it has no efiect except to rotate thegear-wheel, but when it is reciprocated in the opposite direction, thepawl or clutch mechanism between the gear-wheel and the sprocket-wheelshaft, will become engaged so'that the latter will be rotated and thecarrying chain will be advanced a certain distance. These intermittentmovements are of a length equal to the distance which the sheet is to bemoved for each successiveoperation,asin the com mencement after thesheet has been cut, it is moved forward sufficiently to leave room for asecond sheet of metal to be introduced beneath the cutters, and after ithas passed between the rollers which form the hooks it is advanced alongthe former B, and between it and the exterior casing C until it reachesthe seam closing device.

Upon one side, the turned over edge of the metal sheet clasps the edgeof the casing O, and moves between it and a guide 0 as shown in thesection, Fig. 6. This retains the sheet in its proper position as it iscarried along the former and gradually turned into a cylindrical shape,and prevents its being moved to either side and the seam in the wrongposition when closed.

In Fig. 7 the formerB and easing are shown approaching the cylindricalshape, and the former B has concavities 13 made upon each side at thetop, which is shown as flattened or slightly convex. The turned overedges of the metal sheet are pressed into these concavities by theexterior casing, and the space between them becomes narrower as the canprogresses until the concavity upon the left side b comes merged intothe cylindrical outline which the former has assumed at this point. Thisallows the inwardly curved hook (upon the right edge of the metal sheetas here shown) to overlap the outwardly curved hook of the metal sheetwhich still remains in the concavity on that side of the horn,and theedges are thusinterlocked. Beyond this point is a yielding stop B setinto a channel in the top of the cylindrical horn, (which shape theformer has now assumed.) This stop is forced outward by interiorsprings, as shown, so that the inner edge of the seam abuts against it.The outer edge of the seam Y riers.

is pressed in and the two parts closely interlocked by the bar or stop Bwhich is fixed at an inclination with the part B and as the can passesbetween the two, the two parts of the seam are forced closely together.

When the hook edges of the sheet of metal have been brought together andoverlapped, and caused to engage with each other, they pass beneath apressure plateT which moves in vertical guides U, and is forced down bythe action of a cam V mounted upon a shaft Whaving a crank X fixed uponone end of it so that by the oscillation of this crank the cam V iscaused to act upon the vertically moving pressure plate at the instantwhen the can which has been closed around the cylindrical horn isbeneath the plate with its seam uppermost.

D is a vertically moving plate fitting into a groove or channel in thetop of the horn just beneath the seam closer T. Springs D beneath thisplate allow it to be depressed when the seam is closed, so that theoverlapping thickened parts forming the seam of the can are forcedinward and the exterior of the can is left perfectly smooth.

E is an arm fulcrumed as shown so that one end drops down in front ofthe approaching can, when the latter is moved beneath the seam closer.The end of this arm acts as a stop against which the ends of the meetingsides are made even, just before the seam is closed by the plate '1.

Beneath the movable plate D is a bent U- shaped arm E so fulcrum ed thatone end lies beneath the plate D and the other beneath the arm E so thatwhen the plate D is depressed by the action of closing the seam, ittilts the lever E and through its movement lifts the stop E to allow thecan body to be advanced by the next movement of the car- The stop E ishinged to a spring actuated swinging arm E so that as the approachingcan strikes it the stop yields and moves back, but the spring exertssufficient pressure to even up the ends of the can body.

The pressure of the plate T closes the seam firmly, after which the canis allowed to move out from beneath the pressure plate, and thencepasses along the cylindrical horn with the seam vertically above thesolder bath, which is formed by a tank G fitting in a groove or channelin the extension of the horn. This tank is filled with solder which iskept in a melted condition by gas jets from atube F extending throughthe hollow born as shown. 7

F is an acid tank with a conducting pipe which delivers acid to a brushF by which it is applied to the seams as the cans pass beneath it.

The soldering irons Y are supported by arms Z pivoted to a frame abovethe horn and solder bath in such a manner that when the can passes alongthe horn beneath these irons, the irons by reason of the inclined endsare lifted up out of the solder,and as the seam passes beneath them thesolder is deposited thereon. The last iron Y is termed the sweat ingiron, and the cans make a periodicalstop beneath it so that the solderis thoroughly melted or sweated into the joint and the exterior surfaceleft smooth. The irons are heated by supplemental gas jets F which areapplied to the sides of the irons. After leaving the solder bath, theseam passes beneath a brush 66 which wipes off any surplus solder, andthe cans then pass to the end of the horn where thefinal operation ofplacing the heads upon them is completed.

b is a cylinder in line with the end of the horn and so supported as toreciprocate slightly to and from it. In the present case I have shownthe end of the horn chambered, and the corresponding end of the cylinderb is turned down small enough to enter this chamber within which it isguided.

c is a spring against which the inner end of the cylinder rests, andwhich is compressed when the cylinder is forced inward and acts, as soonas the cylinder is released, to force it outward again.

A groove or channel (1 is made around the cylinder just outside the endof the horn, and in this groove or channel is fitted a collar 6 composedof sections which allow the collar to be compressed or made smaller andafterward expanded. Inside of the sections of the collar areplacedspiral springs f which serve to force the sections of the collaroutwardly. These collars have small shoulders which engage correspondingflanges or screw heads on the tubular end of the horn, and thus preventthe sections from being forced outward beyond a certain distance. Theouter periphery of the sections e is made beveled or inclined as shown,so that when the collar is in its normal position, forced out by thesprings, the edge of the sections which is toward the horn and theapproaching can, is just flush with the end of the horn, while theopposite edge of the sections is of as much larger diameter, as thethickness of the can body. For this reason, when the can body is movedalong so as to pass off the end of the horn, it slides over the sections6 and by reason of the springs beneath them, they are compressed orforced toward the center, so that the can will pass over the largestdiameter of the sectional collar, and as soon as the can has passed thiscollar, the sections are thrown out again so as to present an abutmentagainst which the rear end of the can rests and which will prevent thecan from being forced bagkward by future operation. The can body ismoved from the end of the horn where it is left by the carriers uponthis cylinder 1) by means of hooks g, the ends of which are beveledshown so that the can body can pass beneath them without catching, andthe can body is prevented from slipping backward while these hooks aremoving over its surface by other stop hooks g. The inner sides of thehooks are vertical so that theywill engage the rear IIO edge of the canbody and move it forward as the hooks reciprocate. The shanks of thehooks are attached to a sliding reciprocating carrier 72. which isreciprocated for purposes to be hereinafter described, and the hooks gproject upon each side of the horn as shown plainly in the plan viewFig. 2. The upper sides of the points of these hooks are also beveledoff, see Fig. 20, so as to make them incline outwardly from the pointsof the hooks toward the shoulder which catches the rear of the can, andthese beveled points pass under the carriers D as each pair successivelyarrives at thatpoint, and turns themfrom their previous horizontalposition into a vertical position, in which condition they pass aroundthe sprocket wheels G inside the curved guides G and thence return alongthe lower part of the machine to the beginning where they are inposition to take another flat sheet of metal, and carry it along throughthe various operations.

The movable carriage h is actuated by a cam '11 fixed upon the drivingshaft hot the machine, and when this cam strikes the rollers I which arejournaled upon the carriage, it moves the carriage firstforward towardthe end of the cylinder 15, and then returns it again. Upon the end ofthe driving shaft is is a crank m, and a connecting rod it extends fromthis crank and connects with an oscillating lever o fulcrumed upon theframe above the soldering portion of the apparatus as shown.

From the upper part of the lever 0 a connecting rod 19 extends to a pinjon the crank X, and has a notch made in the lower end of it whichengages this crank pin so that when the lever is oscillated to push theconnecting rod 19 it moves the crank arm X, and through the cam V actsas before described to force the presser plate T down and close theseam. At the instant when this is finished the end of the connecting rod19 forms contact with a stationary lug g which lifts it from the crankpin and the crank is then returned to its former position, and thepresser plate is lifted by means of the springs r surrounding verticalpins which connect with the presser plate, and through which the springsact to raise the latter and return the crank as soon as released. Fromthe pin on the lower end of the lever o a connecting rod sextends to therack bar R, and thus reciprocates this rack bar to produce theintermittent motion of the parts previously described.

The carriage h which, as previously described, is caused to reciprocateto and from the end of the cylinder Z2 has a slot or channel t in theupper part of the portion nearest to the end of the cylinder 19. Thisslot or channel is of suflicient width and diameter to receive a cancover, and whenever the carriage is drawn back into line with the chuteu by which the can covers are brought to this carriage, one of thecovers is allowed to fall into the slot t within the carriage. It isretained in this place by means of a reciprocatchute u the slide 10 willhave been moved sufiicient to allow one cover to pass from the chute itinto the carrier slot t. As the carrier It moves away the slide w isreturned to its normal position by a spring as, and closes the bottom ofthe chute. The slide 1) on the can rier is correspondingly retained in aclosed position by a spring y. A pin 2 extends from the slide 2) towardthe stationary guide standard 3, through which the end of the cylinder bpasses. This standard has a hole at made in it into which the end of thepin 2 passes, and when there is no can body in position upon thecylinder I) this pin will continue to reciprocate into and out of thehole at without moving the slide 12 or dropping the head which is in theslot t. A second hole 5 is made vertically through the rear portion ofthe standard 3 and crossing the hole 4. In the hole 5 is a stem 6 havingatthelower end an inclined wedge shaped projection 7, the point of whichis presented toward an approaching can. The lower part of the wedgerests normally in a depression in the top of the cylinder 12 having thepoint high enough to allow the edge of an advancing can to pass beneathit. When the can slides from the horn upon the cylinder bit passesdirectly beneath the wedge shaped point 7 and lifts the pin 6 up untilit is in line with the hole 4. The next reciprocation of the carrier 71.causes the pin 2 to enter the hole 4. The end of the pin will come incontact with the pin 6 which then stands across the hole 4, and whenthis occurs the slide 0 will be moved until a slot in it of equaldiameter with the slot 25 is brought into line with the latter. Thisallows the can head to slip down into the cylindrical chamber 8 betweenthe spring actuated segmental sections 18 which correspond in positionwith the end of the cylinder b, and which are fittedinto the end of thecarrier 71. and project therefrom as shown. The projecting ends of thesesections are beveled so that when advanced by the carrier h suflicientlyto enter the circular recess in the face of the standard 3, andsurrounding the outer end of the cylinder 1), they will beforced toapproach each other, and contract the opening within which the can headis contained. Upon the end of this cylinder 1) and secured in place byany well knowumeans area number of segments 9 forming a completecircular disk. In the present case I have shown four of these segments,but any suitable number which will perform the work may be employed.Theouter peripheryof thesesegments is made beveling so that the diameterof the outer face is greater than the diameter of the end which isadjacent to the end of the cylinder 1) against which the sectional disklies. When in its normal position, the cylinder b is advanced so thatthese segments are projected a little beyond the face of the standard 3,and, consequently, the edge of the can head which is between thesegments 18 will, when these segments are advanced, be slipped over theends of the segments 9 before the segments 18 are closed together, andwill then be partially closed or cramped in by the action of theinwardly projecting V-shaped rings or fianges 16, interior to thesegments 18. Through the center, between the segments 9, is made atapering opening within which is fixed a conical head 10. The taper ofthe opening and of the head may be in either direction, the operationbeing essentially the same in both cases.

In the case which I will first describe, I have shown the cone 10 withthe larger end toward the reciprocating carrier h. It has a cylindricalextension 11, which enters a corresponding hole made in the end of thecylinder 1). This hole is deep enough to contain a spiral spring 12 bywhich the head 10 is normally forced outward so as to allow the sections9 of the conical disk to remain of a diameter approximately equal tothat of the head of the cylinder 1), and in this position they aresmaller than the interior diameter of the flange of the cap or headwhich is to be placed upon the can and which is now contained in thecylindrical chamber 8 of the segments 18. The head is dropped from theslot 25, as previously described, while the se ments 18 are movingtoward the cylinder b, and its sectional disk 9, and this movement iscontinued so that the can head which has dropped into the chamber 8 isimmediately carried on over the sectional disk 9, and the furthermovement of the carrier h forces the end of the can head and the back ofthe chamber against which the can head rests, against the end of thecone 10, thus forcing the cone to slide inwardly by reason of thechamber in which extension 11 slides, and the movement of the cone 10forces the conical segments 9 outwardly within the end of the can, thusspreading the end of the can while the projecting rings 16in theinterior of the segments 18 within which the can head is held duringthis movement correspondingly compress the edges of the can head,so asto crimp itupon the end of the can.

13 are hooks fulcrumed to the standard 3 upon pins as shown at 14. Thesehooks are so beveled toward the horn that the approaching can lifts themand is allowed to pass between them and over the compressible sections6, as previously described, and when the can has passed over thesections 6 so that its rear edge abuts against the faces of thesesections, the points of the hooks 13 will have dropped down behind thesections 6, and will thus hold them firmly against the pressure causedwhen the head is placed upon the opposite end of the can and crimpedthereon. The groove or channel in which the sections 6 are fitted is alittle wider than the thickness of the sections so as to allow them toyield slightly when the pressure is brought upon them until the pressureis supported by the hooks.

In the second method which I have shown for crimping the head upon theend of the can, the central hole between the sections 9 has theenlargement of the conical opening inwardly, and the head 10 iscorrespondingly coned, with the outer end the smallest, as shown in Fig.17. In this case as before, the cylinder b has a slight longitudinalmovement about the extension 11 of the head 10. In this case theextension 11 abuts solidly against the end of the horn or anintermediate correspondingly shaped piece, and the cylinder b isnormally forced a little ways from this piece by springs 15. In thiscase, the segments e against which the rear end of the can is supported,are fitted into a groove in the cylinder b as before described, but thehooks 13 engage the rear of the cylinder 1) and support it when the headis crimped upon the can. The operation in other respects is the same aspreviously described. When the can head is moved so as to fit over theend of the can, and the segments 9, the further movement of the carrierh pushes the cylinder 1) back, and with it the disks 9, and the disksare expanded within the end of the can by this movement of thecylinder-b, which causes the head 10 to expand the disks as previouslydescribed. When this movement has been completed and the can head isfirmly crimped upon the end of the can, the first backward movement ofthe carrier h withdraws the can by reason of the secondary hooks g fixedupon the shanks of the hooks g in such a position as to engage theslightly projecting rear rim of the can, and thus draw the can awayfromthe cylinder b. This relieves the segments 9 from the pressure of thecone 10, and allows them to assume a normal position of smaller diameterthan the interior of the can, and the latter thus slides freely off theend of the cylinder, and is discharged while the next can takes itsplace, and the work proceeds.

In order to prevent the segments 9 from falling apart, and in order tocontract them to their smallest diameter when relieved from the pressureof the cone 10, they are surrounded by a ring 17 (Fig. 13) and betweenthis ring and the reduced portion at the inner ends of the segments, isa spring or springs 20, which yield to allow the segments to be forcedout by the cone 10, and which act to contract the segments when they arerelieved from the pressure of the cone.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A can body making machine, consistingof the forming plates B and 0, between which the sheets of metal aredelivered, and by which they are formed into cylindrical bodies,carriers by which the plates are moved forward to and through theformer, a vertically reciprocating cutter by which the sheets of metalare cut to the proper lengths, an oscillating stop against which theinner ends of the sheet abut when the cutter descends, and mechanism bywhich said stops are lifted to allow the sheets to pass as soon as theyare released from the cutter, substantially as herein described.

2. In a can making machine, the forming plates by which the sheets ofmetal are shaped into cylinders, carriers by which the sheets areadvanced during the process of formation, a vertically reciprocatingcutter, and mechanism by which it is actuated whereby the sheets are cutwhen passing beneath it, oscillating stops adapted to arrest the edge ofthe sheet of metal when it is introduced, whereby the proper length iscut 0E, acam mechanism by which said stops are raised as soon as thesheet has been severed, and carriers adapted to engage the rear edges ofthe sheets and advance them into the can forming mechanism,substantially as herein described.

3. In a can making machine, a means for severing the sheets into properlengths, a stop for arresting the sheets before the severing devicesoperate, means for operating the stop and releasing the sheets afterbeing severed, carriers for advancing the severed sheets forward, andforming plates between which the severed sheets are delivered by thecarriers and formed into body form.

4. In a can making machine, the forming plates between which the sheetsof metal are delivered and formed into cylindrical bodies, means formingthe edges of the sheets into hooks adapted to interlock with each other,means for closing the seam, consisting of a vertically moving presserplate, a cam and connecting mechanism for forcing the plate downward onthe seam after the parts are interlocked, and springs actuated by thepresser plate and raising the latter after the pressing of the seam hasbeen accomplished.

5. In a can body forming machine, mechanism by which the cylindricalbody is formed from the flat sheet, a presser by which the seam formedby the interlocking of the edges of the can is closed, a cam mountedupon a shaft adapted to act upon the presser to close the seam, a crankarm fixed upon the cam shaft, a reciprocating rod having a hook at theend engaging the crank pin of said crank whereby the crank is moved inthe direction to force the presser downward and compress the seam, atripping mechanism whereby the reciprocating arm is disengaged from thecrank pin after the seam is closed, and springs whereby the presser israised and the crank returned after its release from its actuating arm,substantially as herein described.

6. A can making machine consisting of the body former, a seam closingmechanism, carriers mounted upon endless chains whereby the metal sheetsand the completedcan bodies aremoved from one end of the apparatus tothe other, sprocket-wheels around which said chains pass, and shaftsupon which the sprocket-wheels are fixed, a pawl and ratchet mechanismand a reciprocating rack whereby this mechanism is actuated and thechains moved and can bodies advanced intermittently, substantially asherein described.

7. A can making machine consisting of the cutting and feeding mechanismfor the sheets, the former by which the sheets are given a cylindricalshape, and means for closing the seam along the side of the can, asoldering mechanism continuous therewith, a cylinder continuous with thehorn over which the can body passes, mechanism by which the can body isadvanced upon the cylinder, expansible cone-shaped segments adjacent tothe end of the cylinder over which the end of the can is passed andretained, a reciprocating carrier and compressible segments moving toand from said cylinder and its segments, a means for delivering a canhead into the carrier segments whereby it is placed upon the end of thecan bythe reciprocation of the carrier, and means for expanding theinterior segments within the can whereby the head is crimped upon theend of the can, substantially as herein described.

8. In a can making machine, a cylindrical horn over which the can passesand upon which the seam is closed and soldered consecutively, acylindrical extension beyond the end of the horn, conical segments efitting a channel in said cylinder with interior springs by which thesegments are normally forced outward, a reciprocating carrier movable toand from the end of the cylinder, hooks projecting from said carrieradapted to engage the rear end of the can body and move it forward overthe expansible segments so that its rear end abuts against the ends ofsaid segments after it has passed them, conical segments 9 fitting theend of the cylinder and lying within the outer end of the can after itis in position thereon, a central cone entering an opening between theexpansible segments and movable with relation thereto, a means forapplying a can head to the end of the can, and for moving the interiorcone whereby the can is expanded within the head and the latter crimpedthereon, substantially as herein described.

9. In a can making machine, the horn upon which the can is formed andcarried forward during the process of closing and soldering the seam, acylinder in line with the end of the horn upon which the cans aredelivered successively, conical expansible segments fitting the end ofthe cylinder over which the outer end of the can extends when it is inplace upon the cylinder, a reciprocating chambered carrier havingcompressible segments and movable in line with the end of the cylinder,and having a groove or channel adapted to receive and contain can heads,aslotted ICC plate passing across said channehaspring by which saidplate is normally held in posit'on to retain the heads within thecarrier, a pin projecting from the plate, a hole in the stationary headwithin which the end of the can body is received in and out of whichhole the pin reciprocates as the carrier is moved to and from thestationary head, a vertical pin movable in a hole in said stationaryhead transverse to this hole, said pin being moved upwardly to interceptthe pin upon the carrier whenever a can is in position to receive thehead, substantially as herein described.

10. In a can making machine, a cylindrical extension of the horn uponwhich the can is completed, expansible conical segments fitted to theend of the cylinder over which segments the end of the can body extendswhen in position, yielding stops over which the body passes when beingdelivered upon the cylinder and by which the rear end is retained inposition after it is placed, a reciprocating carrier moving to and fromsaid stationary cylinder having a slotted chamber in the upper partadapted to receive the can heads, and a transversely moving springactuated plate normally held in position to retain a can head within it,a chute adapted to deliver can heads to the carrier having the mouth inline above the can head opening of the carrier when the latter is at theend of its reciprocation in one direction, a sliding stop plate by whichthe can heads are retained in the chute, an arm projecting therefrom andengaged by the carrieras it moves outwardly, whereby the plate is movedto allow the single head to pass into the chamber of the carrier, thechute being closed by the return movement of the plate when the carriermoves away from the chute, substantially as herein described.

11. In acan making machine, the vertically reciprocating cutter rodshaving slots made in their lower ends, a shaft journaled so that theends project into the slots, cams fixed upon the shaft, and pinsprojecting from the lower ends of the slotted arms whereby the arms andcutter are depressed by contact of the cams with the pins and the armsare guided in their vertical movements by the slots made through them,substantially as herein described.

12. In a can making machine, the vertically reciprocating cutter andactuating mechanism, in combination with a stop 0 against which the edgeof the sheet of metal is retained while being cut, and an oscillatingleverP from one end of which the stop is suspended, and mechanismwherebythe opposite end is forced down upon the edge of the plate near thecutter While the cutter is rising, and the opposite end and the stop aresubsequently raised to allow the sheet to be carried away to the former,substantially as herein described.

13. In a can making machine, the former B and the casing 0 arranged withrelation to each other so that the sheet is carried between the two andgradually curved into a cylindrical form after the edges have been bentinto hook shape, and a guide (J whereby one of the hook edges is held incontact with the corresponding edge of the casing to retain the sheet inproper position as it advances, substantially as herein described.

14. In a can body forming machine, the former and the casing betweenwhich the sheet of metal is advanced, means for folding the edges ofsaid sheet, and guides beyond the edge forming devices into which thesaid edges are received and guided while the sheet is approaching acylindrical form.

15. In a can making machine, the former B and casing 0 between which thesheet of metal is advanced after having its edges formed to interlock,and gradually made to assume a cylindrical shape, the spring actuatedstop B movable radially within the cylindrical portion of the former B,and projected so as to act as a stop against which one edge of theinterlocking seam abuts, and the exterior stop B fixed at an inclinationwith the opposing movable stop B and against which the opposite edge ofthe seam abuts whereby the latter is closed, substantially as hereindescribed.

16. In a can making machine, means for closing the interlocked seam,consisting of the vertically reciprocating presser T, thespring-actuated depression bar or anvil D and the stop E fulcrumed atone end and having its opposite end adapted to drop down in front of theapproaching can to serve as a stop whereby the ends of the can areevened before the seam is closed, substantially as herein described.

17. In a can making machine, the mechanism for closing the interlockedseam, consisting of the vertically reciprocating presser, the springactuated depression bar D and the stop E for evening the ends of thecan, in combination with the tilting lever E fulcrumed so that one endis engaged by the anvil D and the other end engages the stop E to liftthe latter when the seam is closed and allow the can body to beadvanced, substantially as herein described.

18. In a can making machine, the cylindrical extension over which thecan passes after the seam is closed, a solder trough and gas heatingjets whereby the solder is melted, soldering irons having hingedsuspending arms whereby the irons normally rest in the solder trough andare raised by the passage of a can beneath them, so that the solder isdeposited along the closed seam, and supplemental heating jets F, theflame from which impinges upon the soldering irons to keep them hot,substantially as herein described.

19. In a can making machine, the cylindrical extension over which thecans pass after the seams have been closed, a solder trough removablyfitting into the top of the extension with gas jets for heating andmelting the solder therein, soldering irons supported upon hinged armsabove the solder tank with their lower edges normally dipping into thesolder within the tank, said irons being lifted and passed over the seamwhenever a can passes beneath them, in combination with the acid tank Fand the distributing brush F for applying acid to the seam before thecan passes beneath the irons, substantially as herein described.

20. In a can making machine, the former and easing between which thesheet of metal is passed and shaped into a cylindrical form, mechanismfor interlocking and closing the seam, and for subsequently solderingthe seam, in combination with endless chains situated upon oppositesides, carriers hinged to the chains with the ends adapted to engage theedges of the sheet of metal and advance it by intermittent movements,and subsequently to advance the completed can to the point where thehead is applied, in combination with means for turning the carriers intoa vertical position and a guide channel by which they are retained inthis position when passing around the sprocket-wheels at the rear end ofthe machine and returning to the front, substantially as hereindescribed.

21. In a can making machine, a cylindrical extension upon which the canis delivered after leaving the horn upon which it is completed, areciprocating carrier adapted to receive the heads and place them uponthe ends of the cans when presented and arms connected with the carrierhaving hooks adapted to engage the edges of the completed cans andadvance them to a position where the heads are applied, substantially asherein described.

22. In a can making machine, a cylindrical extension upon which the cansare delivered after being completed, means for retaining the cansinposition upon the extension,con1- cal segments at the outer end of thecylinder, a means whereby said segments are movable outwardly within theend of the can which projects over them, a reciprocating carrier movableto and from the end of the cylinder having compressible segments fittingin the end adjacent to the end of the cylinder, said segments havinginwardly projecting \l-shaped rings between which can heads aredelivered periodically and placed upon the ends of the cans when thecarrier moves toward the can heads, and mechanism whereby the interiorconical segments are expanded and the exterior segments compressedwhereby the head is crimped upon the end of the can, substantially asherein described.

23. In combination with a cylinder in line with the horn of a can makingmachine, the expansible segments to be carried by said cylinder, theinterior springs, and the ring surrounding the segments and springs.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT D. HUME.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, H. F. ASCHECK.

